Written Answers Wednesday 28 May 2008

Scottish Executive

Central Heating Programme

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when its central heating programme will next go out to tender.

Stewart Maxwell: We would expect the central heating programme to go out to tender sometime in the next 18 months, subject to the recommendations by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum on the future shape of the programme.

  Tendering of the central heating programme was last undertaken in 2006. The contract was for two years, with the option of a further two extensions for up to 12 months each. The first extension is currently being used from April 2008 to March 2009.

DNA Testing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money the Scottish Police Services Authority (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on DNA testing in each of the last five financial years, broken down by police board.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the way that money is allocated to police boards for DNA testing.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are any problems with the system of funding allocation to police boards for DNA testing.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13110 on 27 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Early Years Framework

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the names of the members of the task groups taking forward the early years framework.

Adam Ingram: A joint policy statement on early years and early intervention was launched by Scottish ministers and COSLA on 18 March 2008.

  The work on developing the early years framework is now being taken forward by four task groups, each focusing their attention on one of the themes of the framework: building parenting and family capacity; creating communities that provide a supportive environment for children and families; delivering integrated services that meet the holistic needs of children and families, and developing a workforce to support the framework.

  The task groups are being chaired by:

  Val Cox, Depute Director, Workforce and Capacity Division, Scottish Government - Developing a workforce to support the framework;

  Martin Crewe, Director, Barnardo’s Scotland - Creating communities that provide a supportive environment for children and families;

  Julia Swan, Director, Education Services, Falkirk Council - Delivering integrated services that meet the holistic needs of children and families, and

  Malcolm Wright, Chief Executive, NHS Education for Scotland - Building parenting and family capacity.

  The names of the members of the task groups and of the members of the programme board overseeing the framework are now available on www.scotland.gov.uk/earlyyearsframework.

  The launch of the policy statement was followed by a short consultation on the tasks on which the task groups should focus. An updated list of tasks reflecting the views of respondents is also available on the website.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils achieved at least five standard grades at SQA level 4, including English and maths, at each local authority secondary school in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils left each local authority secondary school in Glasgow with at least five standard grades at SQA level 4, including English and maths, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Maureen Watt: The information requested is given in the document Pupils with five or more qualifications at SCQF level 4, including English and maths , a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45619).

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that householders facing repossession of their homes receive free legal advice.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended to introduce free legal representation for householders facing repossession of their homes, as has been introduced in England.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13070 on 27 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Housing

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many no-fines houses were constructed through Communities Scotland and its predecessor organisations in each year for which records exist.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of no-fines housing constructed through Communities Scotland and its predecessor organisations is not held by the Scottish Government.

Housing

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many no-fines houses constructed through Communities Scotland and its predecessor organisations have been improved or refurbished in each year for which records exist, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of no-fines houses constructed through Communities Scotland and its predecessor organisations which have been improved or refurbished is not held by the Scottish Government.

Housing

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many no-fines houses originally constructed through Communities Scotland and its predecessor organisations have been transferred to (a) housing association or (b) private ownership in each year for which records exist, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of no-fines houses originally constructed through Communities Scotland and its predecessor organisations which have been transferred to housing associations or private owners is not held by the Scottish Government.

Justice

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to meet the recommendations of the Scottish Sentencing Commission which reported in 2006 on improving the scope and consistency of sentencing.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is aware of the recommendations made by the Sentencing Commission in August 2006, in particular that steps should be taken to introduce a procedure that gives effect to a system of sentencing guidelines.

  As set out in our manifesto, we believe that such a system would deliver more consistent and transparent sentencing and intend to set up a sentencing council to take this work forward. We plan to consult with key interests and stakeholders, especially the judiciary, on the issues around establishing such a body before coming forward with detailed proposals.

Justice

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing recommendations 29 and 30 of The ACPOS and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service working group formed to develop joint protocols, as recommended in the Bonomy Report.

Frank Mulholland QC: Both recommendations relate to the disclosure of evidence in criminal proceedings by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish police.

  Recommendation 29 suggested that the police and COPFS should commit to a process of full disclosure in all solemn cases in connection with the implementation of High Court Reform in 2005.

  Recommendation 30 suggested that COPFS should consider a pilot for routine disclosure of a summary of the Crown case in summary cases.

  I am pleased to confirm that both recommendations have been implemented in full, Recommendation 29 was implemented in November 2004 when the then Lord Advocate Lord Boyd issued a Crown Practice Statement in relation to the disclosure of evidence by the Crown in High Court Cases.

  The Crown Practice Statement took full effect from 1 January 2005 and continues to apply to all High Court cases indicted on or after 1 April 2005 and was extended to all solemn cases from 1 September 2005.

  In relation to Recommendation 30, a successful pilot was conducted in Dumfries and Galloway in 2007 and the new process was rolled out nationally in September 2007 to support the Summary Justice Reform programme. All summary complaints now include a summary of evidence against the accused.

NHS Hospitals

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of care for urgent cases and managing minor injuries and illnesses at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12979 on 27 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk./webapp/wa.search .

NHS Hospitals

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the initial management of broken bones at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of routine and emergency surgery at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management of acute medical conditions at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management at the Balfour Hospital of patients who have suffered a stroke, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management of long-term conditions at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of maternity care at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management of patients with complicated problems at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of care for urgent cases and managing minor injuries and illnesses at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the initial management of broken bones at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of routine and emergency surgery at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management of acute medical conditions at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery at the Gilbert Bain Hospital of the management of patients who have suffered a stroke, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management of long-term conditions at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of maternity care at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of the management of patients with complicated problems before they are transferred from the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12979 on 27 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk./webapp/wa.search .

NHS Hospitals

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of outpatient, day case, in-patient and rehabilitation services at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.

Nicola Sturgeon: Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare will impact on all Rural General Hospitals (RGH) including Gilbert Bain Hospital by improving local access to a range of emergency, diagnostic and planned treatment services.

  NHS boards are responsible for planning and delivering services to meet the healthcare needs of their resident populations. Work is on-going to implement the recommendations contained within the report and boards are expected to deliver these objectives in accordance with Chief Executives Letter 23/2008 circulated on 13 May 2008.

  Further details may be found in the full report of the Remote and Rural Steering Group and in particular the technical annexes (online only) which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45640).

NHS Staff

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks there have been on GPs and their staff in each year since 1997, also broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of physical attacks is not recorded.

  The arrangements for primary medical services are set out in regulations. These provide that practices may request the immediate removal of patients who commit an act of violence or behave in such a way that a person connected with the practice or present in the premises has feared for their safety. Removals for other reasons do not take effect immediately.

  The numbers of removals under the violence provisions since 1997 are as follows.

  

 NHS Board
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02


 Argyll and Clyde
 4
 -
 4
 2
 6


 Ayrshire and Arran
 4
 5
 8
 7
 14


 Borders
 4
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 2
 -
 1
 1


 Fife
 9
 7
 14
 16
 24


 Forth Valley
 7
 3
 3
 1
 4


 Grampian
 -
 -
 -
 12
 17


 Greater Glasgow
 34
 110
 29
 15
 26


 Highland
 1
 2
 -
 1
 5


 Lanarkshire
 17
 6
 30
 6
 52


 Lothian
 31
 36
 18
 29
 33


 Orkney
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -


 Shetland
 -
 2
 -
 -
 1


 Tayside
 14
 23
 3
 6
 4


 Western Isles
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Total
 125
 197
 109
 96
 188



  

 NHS Board
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Argyll and Clyde
 4
 7
 7
 2
 Na


 Ayrshire and Arran
 9
 9
 9
 15
 7


 Borders
 1
 3
 3
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 -
 2
 2
 1
 3


 Fife
 16
 13
 9
 9
 7


 Forth Valley
 7
 3
 6
 5
 8


 Grampian
 10
 19
 7
 3
 2


 Greater Glasgow
 17
 26
 25
 16
 24


 Highland
 4
 5
 2
 -
 4


 Lanarkshire
 10
 10
 12
 7
 6


 Lothian
 18
 19
 19
 23
 25


 Orkney
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Shetland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Tayside
 -
 4
 9
 2
 3


 Western Isles
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Total
 96
 120
 110
 83
 89



  Note: *Greater Glasgow and Clyde in 2006-07.

Organ Donation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further discussions it has had with the UK Government and the Organ Donation Taskforce, chaired by Elizabeth Buggins, regarding progress on increasing organ donation and the opt-out option.

Nicola Sturgeon: I met Mrs Elizabeth Buggins last month, along with Chris Rudge, in his new role as National Clinical Director for Transplantation in England. The meeting gave me an opportunity to express my commitment to the implementation for Scotland of all the recommendations in the taskforce’s first report.

  In order to ensure good communications, we agreed that Mr Rudge would, in his new role, attend meeting of the Scottish Transplant Group, since I have asked that group to take responsibility for implementation of the recommendations in Scotland. We also agreed to strengthen Scottish representation on the Taskforce through the appointment of a clinician, and a consultant in accident and emergency medicine at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, has now been appointed.

  I indicated my personal support for opting out, but also my recognition of the complex issues it raises and the need for a change of this sort to be supported by evidence of its effectiveness. Mrs Buggins suggested that, while the taskforce was due to produce an interim report in the summer, a slightly longer timetable might prove necessary in order to produce a more finished document. I expressed support for that approach.

Organ Donation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Scotland are on the organ transplant list and what the median waiting times are for transplants for each major organ of the body.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of patients resident in Scotland listed in the UK for an organ transplant and the median waiting time, in days, on the active list, for adults in the UK, is as follows.

  

 
 Scottish Residents Currently on the UK Transplant List
 Median (Active) Time (in Days) to Transplant, UK - Adult


 Organ
 Active
 Suspended
 Total


 Kidney
 613
 142
 755
 841


 Kidney/Pancreas
 10
 4
 14
 265


 Heart
 6
 -
 6
 103


 Lung(s)
 18
 -
 18
 406


 Liver
 24
 -
 24
 95


 Total
 671
 146
 817
 



  Note: There is also one patient listed for a pancreas-only transplant.

Physical Education

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made on the additional facilities that will be required to deliver two hours of PE per week to every pupil in each local authority in the Lothians.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12035 on 28 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools ministers have officially opened or attended the opening ceremonies of since May 2007, broken down by (a) school and (b) date.

Maureen Watt: Scottish ministers have now officially opened nine new schools since May 2007, as detailed in the following table.

  

 School
 Date


 Strathallan Primary, Kirkcaldy
 22 June 2007


 Simpson Primary, Bathgate
 28 September 2007


 Windygoul Primary, Tranent
 14 November 2007


 Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Primary, Inverness
 11 January 2008


 Mauchline Primary
 25 January 2008


 Rothesay Campus
 10 March 2008


 Lochgilphead Campus
 9 May 2008


 Greenwood Academy, Irvine
 14 May 2008


 St Matthew’s Academy, Saltcoats
 21 May 2008

Scottish Government

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any backbench MSPs have attended or observed any cabinet meetings since May 2007.

Bruce Crawford: I refer to the member to the answer to question S3W-12165 on 30 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Sectarianism

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive with which organisations it is working to tackle violent and abusive behaviour by football fans.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to tackle racist behaviour and attitudes by football fans.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to tackle sectarian behaviour and attitudes by football fans.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling all forms of football related violence, abuse and disorder. Over the last year we have provided £250,000 to support campaigns and organisations such as Show Racism the Red Card and Football for All as part of our work specifically targeted at tackling football related racist and sectarian behaviour.

  We are totally committed to working with football authorities, clubs and the police to ensure that bigotry, discrimination and antisocial behaviour does not ruin our national sport. Scottish ministers will meet the SFA, SPL, SFL, sportscotland and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland on 5 June to review the impact of football related initiatives and agree how we can work together to ensure that all initiatives to tackle prejudice through football are properly targeted and will have the maximum impact.

Sectarianism

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the number of racist or sectarian incidents involving football fans.

Stewart Maxwell: Responsibility for recording racist and sectarian incidents across Scotland lies with individual police forces.

Sectarianism

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence has been of racist incidents involving Scottish football fans at club and national level, in Scotland and abroad, since 1 September 2006.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence has been of sectarian incidents involving Scottish football fans at club and national level, in Scotland and abroad, since 1 September 2006.

Stewart Maxwell: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The recording of racist incidents is carried out by individual Scottish police forces.

Student Loans

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) median times are for fully recovering student loan repayments, expressed in years and days.

Fiona Hyslop: It is not possible to provide details on the actual time taken for graduates to repay as the majority of borrowers still have outstanding loans. However, a forecast of the average and median times to repay can be estimated using the student loan model. The model does not produce estimates on the precise number of days.

  The model estimates that the average and median times to repay are approximately 13.1 years and 12.7 years respectively.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students are undergoing teacher training.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12140 on 30 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .